Pulsator for milking machines



vIgA-925878- May 4s ,1924.-

^ lJ. G.G. `EKLUNDl-I PULSATOR FR MILKING MACHINES Filed March 24.1931i;4 2 sheets-sheer 1 May 6 1924. 1,492,878

J. G. G. EKLUNDH PULSATOR FOR MILKING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2` thecontrol of a Patented May 6, 1.92.4.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs.

JOHN G. G. EKLUNDH, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE UNIVERSAL MILKINGMACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PULSATOB FOB MILKING MACHINES.

applicati@ mea Maren 24.1919. serial 1ro. 284,553.

To all whom it may conce-rn:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. G. EKLUNDH, a subject of the King of Sweden,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pulsators for MilkingMachines, of which the followinfr is a specification.

ily invention relates to pulsator mechanism, of the type commonlyemployed in.

milking apparatus, and more particularly to valveoperating meanstherefor. It is to be understood however that the mechanism is notlimited to use in conjunction with milking apparatus, and that the valvetumbler means may be applied to other mechanism than air operatedpulsators.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of such valve tumbler mechanism, whereby itwill not only be chcapened in construction, but will be more eliicientin operation, positive in action, economical in manufacture, andunlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide valve operatingmechanism under rime mover which will be inoperative until such primemoverhas reached a predetermined point in its path of travel. 4

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully ap-y pear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the

Y parts and combinations thereof, andthe mode of operation, or theirequivalents, as'

hereinafter described and set.forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pulsatorembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan-l view thereof.Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the relation of the parts at the.moment of reversal. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig; 5 is ato plan view of a modification. ifrs. 6 and are detail sectional viewsof the pulsator and control valve ports and valve connections. Fig. 8 isa detail view of a modification of the control valve and Fig. 9 is afurther modi fication thereof.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe` several views.

The form of pulsator illustrated in the drawings, comprlses a cylinder 1mounted upon a suitable base or standard 2, the top of the cylinder isextended to form a deck or table upon which is mounted the alternatingvalve mechanism hereafter described.

lVithin the cylinder is a reciprocating pistion 3 which constitutes theprime mover by which the valve tumbler mechanism is actuated. The piston3 is actuated to and fro by air pressure directed to'one end or theother of the cylinderb the ,alternation of the control valve. 'llliepreponderance of air pressure necessary tothe vmovement of the pistonmay be'eifectedj either by exhaustion of air from one end 'of'thecylinder and admissionof air at atmospheric pressure to the opposite endof the cylinder, or it may be effected by admission of air underincreased pressure.

Air is supplied to and exhausted from the cylinder 1 through ducts 4leading from the opposite ends of the cylinder to ports 5 located in thetop or deck of the device. In the present instance these ports arelocated within a groove or recess 6, the bottom of which forms the seatfor a reciprocatory t,

valve member 7. The ports 5 and related ducts 4 are alternately openedto atmosphere and connected with an exhaust port 8 located intermediatethe movement of the valve mem er 7. The exhaust port 8 communicates witha suctionA duct or passage 9 leading downward to a main exhaust assagehereafter referred to. It will be un erstood that in the event the besupplied Arzvdevice is operated by com ressed air such This 'flange maybe integral4 but to the deck or top 10 of the pulsator. The

The-valve 7 is provalve 7 reciprocating in its depressed seat'- sideforming a'communicating passage be Y tween the ports 5 and 8. The mainvalve member 7 may be provided with a loosefitting recessed insert inwhich the'communicating recess or pocket is located as shown in Fig. 9.However such auxiliary iloating valve member forms no part of thepresent invention.

Pivoted upon a fixed stud 12 located in the top of the pulsator is anoperating lever 13. This lever is oscillated to and fro in unison withthe movement of the piston 3 by means of a stud or pin 14 carried by thepiston, which pin extends throu h a slot 15 in the top of the cylinderan engagesin a slot 16 in the operating lever 13.

ivoted to the free end of the operating lever 13 isa valve actuator 17the head of which is ofrllanceolate form and provided with a slot 18 inwhich engages a stud or pin 19 carried by the valve k7. The actuator 17is free for oscillatory movement about its connection with the operatinglever. It will be noted however that the ulcrum 20 of the valve actuatoris shifted to and fro with the movement of the prime mover or piston.The lanceolate head of the actuator is so shaped that as it rides uponthe flange 1,1 during the shifting movement of the fulcrum 20l therelation of the pin 19 with the flange 11 is unchanged and the valveremains at rest.

That is to sa `that the, arcuate faces of the lanceolate ead of theactuatorY are develo d with such relation to the center line o theactuator head thatthe actuator will shift longitudinally andsimultaneously turn about the valve stud 19 while the fulshiftingmovement.

An actuating spring 21 connects the head of the actuator 17 and thefixed stud 12. This spring for convenience is to a pin 22 carried b theactuator head.

The spring-21 by its retractive tendency holds the actuator head firmlyagainst the marginal liange 11 and so maintains the valve in operatedposition until the iston vapproaches the limit of its stroke. Xs thepiston approaches the limit of its stroke the fulcrum 20 of the actuatoris beyond a dead center position in relation with the spring connections-12 and 22, whereupon the vcontraction of the spring immediatelyyoscillates the actuator 17 into engagement with the opposite flange 11,

carrying with it the valve 7 to reverse pomtion. The reversal of thevalve of course` eectslthe reversal of the piston and the cycleofoperations is repeated In Fig.

3 the operating lever 13 is 'shown at the limit of its movement and thefulcrum 20 beyond the dead center with the spring exerting its pull uponthe actuator whic is thereby turned .to the dotted line position. Theoperating lever 13 and actuator 17 may be compared to a toggle linkconstruction which is reversed to and fr0 against the tension of thespring 21 connecting the extremities 'of such toggle link construction."The toggle is operated to a straightened position'to place the sp undertension, and when the toggle is move slightly beyond its Astraightenedposition the spring completes the movement of the toggle.

The spring 21 not only serves to reverse the valve but it also holds thevalve in its reversed osition until the moment of the succee ingoperation of the valve.

The suction duct 9 leading to the port 8 is a branch conduitcommunicating with a main vacuum conduit 23 extending beneath thecylinder 1 and thence upward to a port 24. The port 24 is alternatelyconnected with ports 25 at opposite sides thereof by the alternation ofa pulsator valve 26 seated in a slot or recess 27 in the top or deck ofthe device. This valve is provided with a pocket or depression 28 in itsunder side,

l .which aords a communicating passage between the respective ports 24and 25. The ports 25l communicate with hose or tubing connections 29with which the teat cups or Y other intermittently operated elements areconnected. To operate the pulsator valve 26 the operating lever 13 hasbeen extended beyond its pivotal connection 12, and is provided with aslot 30 in which engages a stud or pin `31 carried by the valve 26. Thevalve 26 is thus shifted to and fro in unison with the movement of thepiston.

The main vacuum conduit 23 is connected with a suitable suction deviceor with a suppl of air under rassure according to the e ected method ooperation. The re versal of the pistonv is controlled by the movement ofthe valve 7 which governs the supply of air to the cylinder 1. Themovement ofthe piston is transmitted,`not to the valve 7 but to thevalve 26 by whi the influence of the actuating media is exertedalternately upon the operated devices connected to the respectiveconnections '29.

It will be obvious that without in any way changing the construction oroperation of the parts the spring 21 may be connected to the stud or pin31 in lieu of the fixed stud 12. In such event the spring wouldbegiven-a. greater tensioning movement and its direction of pull upon theactuator would be'changed in unison with the shift- .ing of the -fulcrum20 thereby accentuat' vthe influence of the spring upon the valveAInFig.5thereisslxownamodilication los of the construction previouslydescribed, in which the actuator for the valve 7 is extended into anelongated lever 32 which is pivoted directly upon the stud or pin. 14carried by the piston. The fulcrum of this actuator lever 32 upon thepin 14 is shifted to and fro beyond a dead center in relation with thespring connections 12 and 22 to reverse the valve in the same mannerbefore described.

If so desired the valve 7 may be omitted and the actuator. whether inthe form 17 or 32, may be utilized as the control valve by providing arecess or pocket33 in the under side of the actuator head as shown inFig. 8. In such case the ports 5 and 8 would be located flush in thedeck or top 1() instead of in the recess 6. To insure perfect contact ofsuch valve element with its seat the head would preferably, though notnecessarily, be provided with a loose insert 34 free for movement towardits seat independent of the actuator, this insert having therein theintercommunicating passage connecting the ports is held upon the seat byair pressure.-

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusproduced a device of the character described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction and arrangement of parts without' departing from theprinciple involved, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While the invention has been described in language more or less specificas to certain structural features, it is to beV understood that theinvention is not limited to the specific details shown and described,-but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one ofseveral modes of putting the invention into eiect, and the invention istherefor claimed in any of its forms or modifications within thelegitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. In a mechanism of thecharacter de scribed, a movable valve member, an oscillatory actuatortherefor, a spring adapted to oscillate the actuator. and meansforsimultaneously shifting the spring and the fulcrum of 'said actuatort0 and fro toward each other to cause the actuator fulcrum and the lineof force of said spring to simultaneously approach and pgss each other,whereby the actuator will alternately oscillated in opposite directionsto effect the reversal of said valve.

2. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with abody having therein a plurality of ports to be alternately opened andclosed, of. a valve controlling the opening and closing of said ports,an oscillatory control member therefor, an actuating spring connected tosaid member, and means for shifting the fulcrum of the oscillatorymember, a midlength bearing upon which the member oscillates during suchshiftingmovement to cause the line of force of said spring to approachthese fulcrums, whereby the oscillatory member will be alternately'actuated in 0pposite directions by said spring to alternately open andclose said ports.

3. In a mechanism of the character described, an oscillatory member, anactuating spring therefor, and means controlled' by the oscillation ofsaid oscillatory -member for shifting the fulcrum'of said member to andfro across the line of force of said spring, a valve having' operativeconnections with said oscillatory members. said spring being operativelyconnected with said oscillatory member at a point beyond the operativeconnection `of said member with the valve, whereby said oscillatorymember willV be alternately oscillated in opposite directions under theinfluence of said spring.

4. In a mechanism of thev character described, a movable member to-beoperated, a

pivoted actuator having operative engagement therewith, a spring adaptedto oscillate the actuator connected therewith eccentricallyl in relatic`with the point of operative engagement` othe actuator and' movablemember, and means for shifting the fulcrum of the actuator to and-froacross the line of force of said spring, whereby the actuator andmovable member .will be operated first in one direction and then inanother direction, under the influence of the spring.

5. In a mechanism of the character described. a pair of pivotallyinterconnected lou lever arms forming a toggle-like link, a

spring connecting the respective arms of said interconnected toggle-likelink, a movable member to be operated connected with one of said leverarms, and means to oscillate the other arm to reverse said toggle-likelink to and fro beyond a dead center to elect the alternation of themovable member under the influence of said spring.

lit)

6. In a mechanism of the character de- Y scribed. a movable memberto beoperated. an oscillatory operating lever having a fixed pivotalconnection, an oscillatory actuator pivoted to the free end of theoperating lever and operatively connected with said movable member,mea-ns for-oscillating the. operating lever, and a spring tensioned bythe oscillation thereof adapted to oscillate the actuator independent ofthe movement of the operating lever to shift said movable member. p

V7. In a mechanism of the character described,l an oscillatory leverhaving a' fixed pivotal connection, a second'oscillatory 'lever pivotedto the Vfree end of the first lever,

means controlled b the oscillation of the second lever for e ecting theoscillation of the first mentioned lever, and an actuating spring forthe second mentioned lever tensioned by the oscillation of the firstmen-` tioned lever.

8. The combination with a fluid pressure operated prime mover of amovable control valve governing the action ofthe fluid pressure uponsaid prime mover, an oscillatory actuatlng member for seid valve theopposite ends of which are simultaneously l limit of its to andromovement, and means whereby the line of force' of the spring isautomatically advanced to meet said fulcmm, b the shifting movementthereof,

. substantlally as specitied.-

which is operatively movesm unison wit '65 other endof which movessimultaneously in 10. In a mechanism of the character described, anoscillatory control member an oscillatory support therefor, Huidpressure operated means for oscillating said support and aspring'adapted to oscillate the control member in a direction o positsto thedirection of oscillation of sais support under the iniiuence ofthe fluid pressure, and a vaive member .controlled thereby to governthe` action of the fluid pressure upon said operating means, as themovable support ap proaches the limit of its to and fro movement.

11. rihe combination with fluid pressure operated mechanism of a movablevalve member, two interengaged oscillatory levers, alternatelypositioned in reverse angular relation, and'shifted to and fro by theoperation of the fluid pressure operated mechanism, an operative-engLgngementl between one of said levers, and said valve and a springadapted to oscillate the valve engaging lever independent of the otherlever to shift the valve as the duid pressure operated'mechanismapproaches the limit of its stroke.

12. In a constrnction of the character described, a reciprocatory memberto be operated, a reciprocatory prime mover an oscillatory actuatingmember one en Vof connected with, and the prime mover, the

1,4ea,eve

the opposite direction, and a placed under tension b the action of eactuating member adapte to bodily swing the actuating member about itsoperative connection with' the prime mover to its alternate position`toreciprocate the member to be 0 erated as the prime move'i` approaches te l limit of its stroke.

13. A movable control member, a rime mover governed by the movement osaid control member, an interconnecting actuating member, one end ofwhich is connected to and moves in unison with the prime mover, theother end of which moves simuL taneously in the opposite direction and aspring adapted to oscillae Athe actuator independent of its oscillatorymovement under the influence of the prime mover to shift said controlmember as tbe prime mover apl of its point of operative engagement withthe valve said pivotal connection being reciprocated to and fro by saidilnid operated means,` said spring being connected to the actuatinglever -at the opposite side of the point of operative engagement of thelever with the valve, whereby the shifting of the pivotal connectionwill eect a movement of the point of connection ofthe sprin the oppositedirection until the line of orce of the spring and pivotal connection ofthe lever pass one beyond the other, whereupon the spring will oscillatethe lever about its pivotal connection to impart movement to the valve.

15. Ina .construction of the character described, a .novable member tobe operated, an actuating lever having a pivotal connection with saidmovable member, means for moving said lever to' and fro a guide for saidlever dui' its sliding pivotal movement whereby said movable memberIwill be una'l'ected thereby, and a sllring adapted to shift the movablemember w en the lever has been oscillated about its connection therewithtoa predetermined position.

16. In a mechanism of the .character described, a valve member ca ableof alternating movement, a spring or imparting a snap over action to thevalve, an oscillatory actuating member having an intermediate operativeconnection with said valve, means for oscillating the ends of theactuating member Simultaneously in opposite directions about itsoperative connection with the valve to tension said spring, whereuponthe actuating lever is oscillated in unison with the movement of thevalve about a center eccentric with its initial oscillatory movementunder the infiuence of the spring.

17. The combination with a fluid pressure operatedmechanism, of analternating' control valve governing the action of the fluid underpressure upon the mechanism, of snap over tumbling means for the valveincluding an oscillatory llever movable in unison with the iiuidpressure actuated mechanism, a second lever pivoted to the first leverand having its free endoperatively connected with the valve, a springconnected to the second lever and tensiond by'the movement of the firstlever to actuate the second lever independent of the first lever by thereaction of the spring when the interpivotal point of said levers ismoved across the line of force of the spring, to shift said controlvalve.

18. In a mechanism of the character described, a valvemember capable ofalternating movement, a spring for imparting a snap over action to thevalve, an oscillatory actuatin member having operative connection witthe valve, and means for simultaneously shifting the spring and fulcrumof said osclllatory member toward and across each other, whereupon saidspring will effect the movement of the valve and actuator to alternatepositions. r

19. In a mechanism of the character described, a valve member capable ofalternating movement, a spring for imparting snap over action to thevalve, an oscillatory actuatin leverI having operative engagement with te valve, stationary stop members englged by the actuating lever at theopposite its of its stroke, means for shifting the fulcrnm of saidactuating lever to and fro across the line of force of said springwherebythe spring will alternately influence the movement'of the valveand actuator to alternate positions.

20. In a mechanism of the character described, a valve member capable ofalternating movement, a spring for imparting snap over action to thevalve, an oscillatory actuating lever having operative engagement withthe valve, stationary stop members engaged by the actuating lever at theopposite limits of its stroke, upon which `sald oscillatory actuatinglever has a rocking movement, means for shifting the fulcrum oftheactuating lever to and fro to impart such rocking movement thereto inrelation with the enga d stop, said spring'effecting-the revers of theactuating ever into engagement with the opposite stationary stop uponthe shifting of said fulcrum across its line of force.

21. Ina .mechanism of the character described, a valve member capable ofalternating movement, a spring for imparting map over action to thevalve, an oscillatory actuating lever having operative engagement withthe valve, stationary stop members engaged by .the actuating lever atthe opposite limits of its stroke, one of the engaging members having avcam face formed thereon whereby said actuating lever is guided in itsvadjusting movement. means for shift-ing the fulcrum of' said lever toi' adjust the actuating lever toposition for reversal under theinfluence of said spring.

22. In a mechanismpf the character described, a valve member capable ofalternating movement, a spring for imparting snap over action to thevalve, an-oscillatory actuating lever ha'ving a sliding pivotalengagement .with the valve, spaced guides engaged by the leve'r at theopposite limits of its stroke, cam iaces on said lever contacting theguides to control the adjusting movement of the lever, and means toshift the vpivotal yconnection of the lever in relation with .the lineof force of the spring to effect the alternation .of the lever and valveun-der the influence of the spring.

23. In a mechanism of the character described, a valve member capable ofalternating movement, two interpivoted oscillatory arms forming a togglelike link, a spring tending to flex the saidl toggle like link 'againstthe tension of which the interpivotal connection of said arms isreversible, a valve capable-ot` alternating movement operativelyconnected with one of said oscillatory arms, and means for oscillatingsaid arms to and fro across the line of dead center against the tensionof said spring, whereupon the further flexing of the toggle like link iseffected by oscillating one member independent of the other by theaction of the spring to effect the reversal of the valve member.

24.-. In a snap over tumbler mechanism for valves, the combination witha iiuid pressure operated prime mover, a movable control valvegoverning. the actionof the fluidv pressure upon the prime mover, apivoted actuating lever for the valve, an actuating spring for thelever, the pivotal connection of the lever being movable to andl froacross the line of force of the spring in unison with K the travel ofthe prime mover, said lever having a rocking bearing between the pointof connection of the spring and the pivotal connection about which thelever oscillates under influence of the spring toeffect a movement ofthe spring connection in a direction opposite the direction of, movementof the ivot and in unison therewith.

25. n a snap over tumbler mechanism for valves, the combination with afiuid pressure operated prime mover, a movable control valve governingthe action of the fluid pressure upon the prime mover, an actuator linkfor the valve pivotally connected at its oppote ends foroscillatmg-movement lll about either connection upon shift' movement ofthe other connection, said nk being movable about one of its pivotalconnec tions by shifting movement of its opposite connection underinfluence of the prime mover, a spring tensioned by such movement tosubsequently oscillatc the link about its shifted connection to shiftthe first mentioned ivotal connection in opposite direction an my handthis 15th da.

'JOH Witnesses:

E. DUNCAN, F. L. WALxl/m.

of March A. D. 1919. G; G. ElLUNDH.

